Back-to-Back for Fem van Empel: World Champion Wins Again at Exact Cross Heerderstrand

As the name of the race - Internationale Cyclocross Heerderstrand - suggests, the recreational area Heerderstrand hosted this cyclocross. Around the swimming pond, a mix of some paved sections, a few sandy passages, and some more technical parts through the park and grass could be found.

On paper, you might call it a sandcross, but inquiries with the organizers taught us it was not that simple to reach that conclusion. “Don't be mistaken: this is not sand like in Alphen or at the Schelde in Antwerp. It's very stiff sand, where you can cycle through for a maximum of about ten meters,” said Bert Jan Hamer from the organization ahead of the race.

Strong start from Bentvelt
Just like during the races in Ruddervoorde and Woerden, it took a while before Van Empel managed to take the lead. In the first two laps, it was Leonie Bentvelt who blasted out of the blocks. The Dutch rider from Pauwels Sauzen-Altez Industriebouw posted a lightning-fast opening lap but could not prevent Aniek van Alphen and the world champion from joining at the start of the third lap.

Would Van Empel then surge ahead? Quite the opposite, the top favorite from Visma | Lease a Bike came under pressure from Van Alphen and had to close gaps multiple times. Bentvelt seemed to have fewer problems following the leader's wheel. At the start of the penultimate (4th) lap, spectators could prepare for a three-way battle for the win. Meanwhile, Inge van der Heijden and Hélène Cauzel fought for 4th place.

Strong finish for Van Empel
But as the race progressed, the three-way fight increasingly looked like it would become a duel. Bentvelt began making several mistakes due to fatigue. When the bell sounded, she was already at a small gap. Midway through the final lap, Van Alphen appeared to be struggling as well. On the power sections, it was Van Empel who successfully applied pressure on her compatriot.

Although Van Alphen never truly cracked, she watched Van Empel ride away meter by meter. On the finish straight, the world champion even had enough time to accept a cardboard sign reading ‘Hoera! 50 wins’ from the crowd. A milestone for the 23-year-old woman from 's-Hertogenbosch on the beach of Heerde.